Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club skier Madeline Boucher cuts down Sitz and See Me on Friday at Steamboat Ski Area during the first race of a three-race weekend for the SmartWool series championships. It was a strong opening day of skiing for Steamboat. Natalie Pearl won the giant slalom on the women's side. Steamboat's Annie Ochs was fifth, Perri Meeks was eighth and Erin Gaffney was 10th. Steamboat skier Zack Monsen finished second behind River Radamus on the men's side. Steamboat's Nate Bowman was eighth. Action resumes Saturday with slalom runs starting at 8:15 a.m. for the men and 11:15 a.m. for the women at Howelsen Hill. A dual slalom at Howelsen will wrap up the weekend, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.